Learning from the trees in autumn

I love the changing seasons. Its not that I have a favourite, more that I like the transition between seasons. Its a time when you notice what is happening in nature, whether you are taking a walk in the countryside or through a park. And of course nothing signals autumn more than the falling leaves from the trees.

Leaves are vital to the growth of the tree. They use sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to convert into food to enable the tree to grow and survive. And yet, however important, every autumn our deciduous trees shed all their leaves. They let them fall away. Quite simply to hold onto them through the winter does more harm than good.

As you reflect on your year so far, I wonder what has happened in your life that has made its mark? Are you holding onto comments someone has made that left you feeling hurt? What about those things you 'should have' done and haven't? Or the things you shouldn't have done but did? Imagine for a moment that all of the little conversations you keep replaying in your mind, that you seem unable to move beyond, are simply leaves on your tree of life. Autumn is here and its time to let them fall away. Holding onto them any longer will only cause harm. Its ok to keep the learning from the event whilst letting the event fall away.

We have a course starting shortly that can teach you how to let go, and its not yet too late to join us.

And for those of you in leadership, are you already talking about the lessons we learn from decision trees? There are so many very small decisions made in organisations every day work would grind to a halt if they were all made at the top, so they are delegated appropriately. Or perhaps not always? Sometimes managers find it hard to let go of even some small decisions. There are a multitude of reasons why this can happen ranging from the culture of the organisation, through to the specific personality of the manager. One conversation that can help bring about changes away from micromanagement is to consider leaf decisions.

Whilst leaves naturally fall away from some trees in autumn, the loss of a few leaves on any type of tree, at any time of year, will not cause any significant harm to the tree. And some decisions are like this too. Yes there is the 'right' way to do something, like a leaf falling away in autumn. And there is the 'wrong' way, like pruning in the summer. Some people learn by being taught, and the simple truth is many more lessons come from doing - whether we did the thing right or wrong. Often we learn so much more from getting something wrong, than we would by getting it right. So when you are looking at the growth of your organisation, and the development of your employees, recognise where there are some 'leaf' decisions. Decisions that allow a colleague a sense of autonomy, being trusted, being responsible, where you know that whilst there is a risk, that you are willing to take, that they may not make the right choice first time, losing that leaf is not going to cause significant harm. In fact losing the leaf may well be more beneficial than keeping it.

Support your colleagues to grow by trusting them with things that are important, and yet are risks that you can easily manage if necessary. And as you do, reflect on those personal events is the passing season that you can let go this autumn.

If you would welcome any support this autumn, contact us for a conversation.